Pool-table attachment.



J. F. McNAMARA.

POOL TABLE ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. 1915.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- J. F. M'cNAMARA.

POQL TABLE ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, m5.

1,175,068. Patented Mar.14,19 16.

3 SHEETSSHET 2.

775m 9 1? aiw famm ..1. F. McNAMARA; POOL TABLE ATTACHMENT. APPLICATIONFILED JUNE H, 1915.

1., 175,068. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

3 SHE'ET$-SHEET 3.

JOHN F. MQN'AMARA, 0F DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

POOL-TABLE ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Application filed June 11, 1915. Serial No. 33,534.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. MONAMARA, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Danbury, county of Fairfield, State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPool-Table Attachments; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inattachments for pool tables and more especially to an attachment orholder in which the triangle is locked.

The main object resides in an improved triangle holder from which thetriangle may be removed for spotting the balls as required in commencinga game.

A further aim is to provide a combined ball drawer or receptacle andtriangle holder especially adapted for pool tables embodying theautomatic runways for delivering the balls that go into the pockets to adrawer or other suitable receptacle, so that the receptacle whilemaintaining the triangle looked against unauthorized re-. moval, stillallows removal of one or more balls and the cue ball for spottingpurposes following a scratch.

Another object is to provide a triangle holder in the form of a draweradapted to be disposed so that the automatic runways will deliver theballs within the triangle which latter confines the balls in aconvenient manner and a definite and accessible place.

The invention further aims to provide a triangle holder to which theballs are returned from the pockets, the balls being always accessiblefor spotting purposes without unlocking the triangle.

The invention also resides in the salient features of construction,arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described, claimedand illustrated in its referred embodiment in the accompanylng drawingswherein tional view of the attachment taken about views, the numeral 1designates a box-like frame secured to the underside of a pool table 2which has incorporated the automatlc runways 3 for returning ordeliverlng the balls that enter the pockets to the drawer 4, the latterbeing sliadably arranged in the frame 1.

The drawer consists preferably of a flat bottom 5 having a front wall 6,only, to which the handle 7 is fixed. The drawer bottom 5 slides beneatha V-shaped. vertical wall 8 which depends from an inclined top wallportion 9 extending inwardly from and carried by the side walls of frame1.

The common or main runway 3 leads to the base of the V-compartment 10,which is defined by wall 8, and projects slightly beyond the latter toform a lip 3 beneath which an apex of the triangle 11 is adapted toengage, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The,

opposite side of the triangle lies substantially parallel to the frontwall 6 of the drawer and is adapted to engage with an overlying framemember 1 of the frame 1 on an attempt to remove the triangle through thetop of the frame. The edges of the top wall 9 are preferably extendedinwardly as at 9, Fig. 10, to form a ledge which overhangs the triangle:.With the triangle thus arranged in the drawer, the pocketed balls aredelivered thereinto as is obvious from Fig. 3.

The front end of the frame extends beyond the body of the table (seeFig. 1) whereby access, through the top of the frame, to the balls inthe drawer may always be had, such accessibility being desired when itis necessary to spot one or more balls.

The drawer is normally locked closed by the pivotally mounted latch 12engaging in keeper 13 provided on the underside of the bottom 5.Adjacent the pivotal mounting of the latch a spring 14 is fastened foryieldably holding the latch in an operative position. Pivoted to theouter end of the latch is a release lever 15 having a heel 16 adapted tobear against the keeper and force the latch therefrom. The free end ofthe release lever extends downwardly and engages in the slotted rearterminal of a slide 17 of a coin controlled mechanism.

The term coin is used here to include a check, or its equivalent, and itis not intended to limit the invention to a triangle nor to thespecified shape of the frame compartment.

The coin controlled mechanism is mounted on a support 18 in whichare'formed guiding grooves 19 and 20. The slide 17 is guided in groove19 and has a downturned projectlon 17 on its forward end for normalengagement in a recess 21 formed in the wall of a coin receiving opening22, the latter beingprovided in an underlying pusher slide 23 which isguided in groove 20. The inner end of the slide 23 is formed with adown-turned stop 24 for engaging one end wall of a recess 25 provided'inthe'support 18 to receive acoiled spring 26 which latter is interposedbetween the stop and the opposite end wall of the recess to holdnormally the pusher slide in projected position whereby the coin opening22 is uncovered. Depending pins 27 engage shoulders 28 of slide 17 tolimit the outward movement thereof.

From the foregoing, it is clear that, upon pushing on the outer or knobend of the pusher slide without inserting a coin-in the opening 22, thelatch releasing slide 17 is unafi'ected. However, upon the insertion ofa coin, the latter establishes an operative connection between theslides by acting upon the projection 17 and therefore, a push on slide23 will effect a sliding of element 17 which rocks release lever 15 forunlatching or unlocking the drawer. The coin is carried by slide 23 overan opening 29 through which it drops into a collection receptacle 30.The drawer, upon being released, is started in its opening movement by aspring actuated plunger or bumper 31 suitably mounted in the frame 1 bybracket 32.

'After the triangle is used for spotting the balls and returned to thedrawer, the latter is closed and automatically locked by the.

latch 12. For ascertaining that the drawer is completely closed, asignal in the form of a bell 33 is arranged in the path of the drawer tobe operated thereby when pushed inwardly.

The operation having been set forth during the description, arestatement of the manner of operation is not thought necessary here, itbeing understood that, while the balls are always accessible, thetriangle cannot be removed unless the proper coin is inserted in thecoin opening of the pusher slide.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment of the character described comprising, in combination,a ball delivering runway, a framehaving a V-compartment. into which therunway projects for delivering balls thereto, a drawer movably mountedon the frame and constituting a bottom for the compartment thereof, atriangle arranged on the drawer within the V-compartment and engagingunder the projecting runway, means for locking automatically the drawershut, and a signal for indicating when the drawer is in position to belocked.

2. An attachment of the character described, comprising, in combination,a ball delivering runway, a frame having a V-compartment into which therunway projects for delivering balls thereto,, a drawer movably mountedon the frame and constituting a bottom for the compartment thereof, atriangle arranged on the drawer within the V-compartment and having anapex engaging beneath the runway to prevent removal from the drawer whenlocked, and alock for the drawer.

3. An attachment of the character described comprising, in combinationwith a table having a ball runway, a frame secured to the-table andhaving an open top portion through which access to the balls therein maybe obtained, the table ball runway being arranged for delivering ballsto the frame, a drawer arranged in the frame, a triangle in the drawer,said triangle being engaged beneath the runway, means on the frame toengage the triangle, and a lock for the drawer whereby to preventdisengagement of the triangle from the runway and drawer ex cept whenthe latter is withdrawn from the frame. Y

4. An attachment of the character described comprising, in combinationwith a table having a ball runway, a frame secured to the table andhaving an open top portion through which access to the ballstherein maybe obtained, the table ball runway be- 2 ing aranged for deliveringballs to the frame, a drawer arranged in the frame to receive the ballsfrom the runway, a triangle moval from the holder, said holder being inga runway, a triangle holder arranged to receive the balls from therunway, and means 15 to lock the triangle to the holder, said holderbein formed so as to permit access thereto for t e purpose of removingthe balls while the triangle remains locked.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 20 in presence of twowitnesses:

J OHN F. MCNAMARA'.

' Witnesses: V

EUGENE C. DnMPsEY, CHAS. E. Moonn.

